Scotland Update - with photos

Had to share some totally non-educational photos today :) We just got back from a little 3-day trip up north to Banffshire and Moray and I've just downloaded all my photos so have a look at Scotland! :)

We had mostly awesome weather - a little rain yesterday and some COLD winds off the North Sea but it was still glorious. I MUCH prefer the cold to excessive heat! :)

Look at what we saw!

Whitelee Wind Farm - actually near Glasgow where we
went for lunch on the weekend with my aunt and uncle.
It's quite mesmerizing, watching these huge fans!!

Cliffs near Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. These cliffs
are STEEP and very dangerous. No barriers so I had
wobbly legs every time someone moved too close.

Banffshire coast - Troup Head RSPB sanctuary.

View across fields from Craigievar Castle
near Banchory, Aberdeenshire

Cruden Bay beach at sunset :) A mist rolled in as we
were walking back and it was just beautiful!

And again - we were trying to see the seals in the colony
at the end of the beach but they were very elusive!

Slains Castle - this was the inspiration for 'Dracula'!!
Bram Stoker stayed in the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel
(where we stayed too!) and visited this castle
before writing his famous book!!

Part of the gannet colony at Troup Head. Awesome sight.
We sat and watched the birds for ages!

It took FOREVER to get a gannet on the wing!!

My hubby looking for dolphins at the mouth of the
Spey River.

And this I just thought was hysterical!
It's a juvenile thornback ray! They're
hatched and raised in tanks and then
released into the North Sea when they have
 a better chance of survival!!
Isn't it CUTE?!!

Scotland is just the most beautiful place - even in rainy, cold, gray weather. I am actually planning to do some school-related projects with some of my photos - especially the castles (which I've been collecting everywhere we go) There's a Castle Trail here and we've been to quite a lot of them already - amazing buildings with a wonderful history behind them. I'm planning some Math task cards for my kiddies next year - they can learn some interesting historical facts at the same time as doing Math :)

Enjoy your weekend everyone - and be sure to pick up Back to School Shopping for free. Last day tomorrow and then it reverts to its original price so hurry over if you haven't already got it!!